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Archiver > INMONROE > 2005-10 > 1128428182


From: "Randi Richardson" <>
Subject: INMONROE List Trivia
Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2005 07:16:22 -0500
References: <6d.4ed06381.30736b88@aol.com> <434213D9.7010500@prohibition-productions.com>


John,

This list is about six years old. It has about 200 members and has always
been very active. Between Angel Gebhart and I, we share almost every day
and much of what we share comes from newspapers that I copy from microfilm
at the Monroe County Public Library in Bloomington. The newspaper is
randomly selected and generally from a period of time when deaths were not
necessarily reported to the health department. (In 1882 it became a law
that all deaths had to be reported, but there were no teeth in the law until
1917 so reporting was haphazard until that time.)

Obits were not necessarily included in all newspapers published at a given
time and were not necessarily published at all. The early newspapers did
not have reporters that sought out newsworthy items from the community, they
depended on subscribers to submit much of the information. Early newspapers
also had a political slant. If one was a Republican, the reader's newspaper
of choice probably had a Republican slant and items he might contribute went
to that particular newspaper to the possible exclusion of others.

During the past year or so, I have tried to select newspaper items dated
about the same time of year they are to be shared so I don't have to type
information about record-breaking high temps killing cattle when it is
frigid outside. And I try to vary the year in an effort to please
everybody. Of course, I am limited by copyright laws and my respect for
others privacy. Therefore, I don't typcially share anything that is less
than 75 years old.

I think newspapers give us a look back at our history not always available
from other sources. Additionally, it is a source not readily available to
others who live some distance away. I would much rather share information
from a primary source, even though it is not necessarily correct, and let
one draw from that source one's own interpretation, rather than giving you
my own spin on it. One can always find unsupported information online which
begs the question, "Where'd they get that?" or "How'd they know that?"

All of the items shared with the INMONROE list have been archived and the
archive is available on line through Rootsweb. Additionaly, one can find a
lot of information from the archive through a Google search if one is
creative enough to define the search appropriately, not always an easy task.

The first four years of newspaper items were put on a CD, Early Glimpses of
Monroe County, by Angel Gebhart. It is in a format that is fully
searchable. If printed, the document would be several thousand pages in
length. Copies of the CD can be purchased through the Monroe County
Historical Society at 812-355-5588. I think the cost is $25.

Unfortunately, I don't have time to answer many questions posed by others or
to search for newspaper items pertinent to a particular subject or date.

Randi Richardson
INMONROE facilitator


----- Original Message -----
From: "J. de la Torre" <j@prohibition-productions.com>
To: <>
Sent: Tuesday, October 04, 2005 12:32 AM
Subject: Re: [INMONROE] COOPER SIMPSON of Lawrence Co., IN


> Hi
>
> I'm new to the list.
>
> I see new emails every day and it appears someone is researching
> newspapers. How does this process work? Which stories are selected for
> distribution on INMONROE-L?
>

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